I ve been sewing regularly for the past couple of years on a basic Singer. I adore quilting and sewing and have used Janome machines at some sewing workshops. I am currently saving for my dream machine, a Horizon, either 8200 or 8900,the 11 inch throat space being one of the main things taking my attention. In the meantime I am caught though as the Singer just doesn't cut it! Would I be better off getting a mid range Janome for the time being, but would the throat space be limiting or should I hold out for the Horizon??

Thanks a mil for your reply Warbler! the 6600 is available over here, the other two dont seem to be listed in suppliers over here, will check them out. Would you miss the free arm? It doesn't appear to have one.

I have a 6600 and like Warbler, I love it. The Elnas are very similar but do have a few differences. I think the 720 or the 740 is the same as the 6600. The Elnas are more expensive than the Janomes here in my area. The Janome 6500 does not have the accufeed and the 6300 has fewer stitches. I also think that the 8000 series is 9 mm? The 6600 is 7mm which I like as I do mostly garment sewing. The 9mm machines do bigger decorative stitches.

I do not miss the lack of free arm as I learned to sew on machines that had none. I also have a portable machine for classes which does have free arm but I haven't needed it. The Elna machines are very nice but the same as Janome now and are more expensive here.

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